~ 1
■ noun [treated as sing. or plural ]
1》 a group of people who work on and operate a ship, boat, aircraft, or train.
↘such a group other than the officers.
2》 informal, often derogatory a group of people.
■ verb provide with a ~.
↘act as a member of a ~.
Derivatives
~man noun ( plural ~men ).
Origin
ME, in sense 'band of soldiers': from OFr. creue 'augmentation, increase', feminine past participle of croistre 'grow', from L. crescere .
————————
~ 2
past of crow 2 .